22 02, 2019

Preventing Perinatal Depression [TV News Clip]

By |2019-11-18T14:30:27-08:00February 22nd, 2019|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Here’s some big news for perinatal mental health: a national panel just released a report that depression during pregnancy and postpartum can be PREVENTED with evidenced-based counseling. KSWB-TV brought me back for a sixth time to explain. You can watch a clip here.

Perinatal depression is a big problem

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum is a big problem, not just for 1 in 5 women, but for their partners and children as well. We’ve talked before about stigma – that’s the fear of embarrassment that keeps us from telling our friends, “this is tough” or “I’m struggling.” Fortunately, more new parents have been getting real and sharing openly and honestly about their struggles.

Even […]

28 02, 2018

All Teens Should Be Screened for Depression [TV News Clip]

By |2019-11-18T14:30:29-08:00February 28th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Students|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The American Academy of Pediatrics announced this week that all adolescents, ages twelve and up, should universally be screened for depression. Yesterday, KSWB in San Diego had me on the morning news again to break down the recommendations on teen depression.

Teen Depression San Diego

Live tv goes fast, so I had one big priority in my head: to share about the crisis text line. Most of the teens I know would feel more comfortable sending a text message than placing a phone call. You can do it privately in a room full of people and no-one would know. I would love for everyone to save the crisis text number now! If you text “HELLO” to 741741, any time of day or night, a volunteer will write back.

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7 04, 2017

Abigail Burd, LCSW Now Accepts Cigna for Therapy

By |2019-11-18T14:30:34-08:00April 7th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Practice Updates|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I am happy to announce that I am now an “in-network” psychotherapist for Cigna.

Cigna Therapist in San Diego

 

What does this mean for YOU?

If you have Cigna for behavioral health insurance, it means that I can now bill Cigna directly for therapy sessions and you only need to pay the copay at the time of service.

If you are a provider in San Diego, please keep me in mind for clients with Cigna needing help. My specialties include addiction, dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorders, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including depression and anxiety. Over the past 20 years I have helped people from all walks of life and enjoy helping college students, other “helping” or “healing” professionals, and new parents navigate transitions.

Cigna Therapist San Diego

Schedule an […]

18 02, 2017

Abby Burd, LCSW, San Diego Psychotherapist Talks with New Moms March 3rd

By |2019-11-18T14:30:35-08:00February 18th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Catch Abby in a free speaking engagement on March 3rd.

Maiden to Mother Group for New Moms in San Diego
Abby is honored to speak to new moms in San Diego on Friday, March 3rd, at the Maiden to Mother group at Nature’s Whisper. Abby is an LCSW and psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health, which includes postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and adjustment to the new role. Years ago, she used to lead this group, which encourages new moms to find support, community and new identity.
The group has continued on robustly, but recently, the facilitator and studio director reached out to Abby. The new moms have LOTS of questions and they are hoping Abby can help ease their anxiety. Some of the things the mamas have asked include:
  1. I think […]
15 11, 2016

Post Election Stress

By |2019-11-18T14:30:35-08:00November 15th, 2016|Categories: Blog, Mental Wellness|Tags: , |0 Comments

howtomoveforward

According to a Harris Poll conducted in October on behalf of the American Psychological Association, 52% of American adults reported that this Presidential election was a significant source of stress.  Following last Tuesday’s election results and expected significant political change, post-election stress has set in for many Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike.  Regardless of who you voted for, I think a lot of us can agree that this past year has been politically exhausting.

Major political change often brings with it uncertainty about the present and the future. You may be concerned about everything from your finances and economic future to what these election results will mean for the future of your family or country. Typical feelings due to political change are:

  • insecurity
  • loss of control
  • […]

23 06, 2016

Paternal Postpartum Depression [Video Clip – News]

By |2018-02-28T21:10:33-08:00June 23rd, 2016|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment

Yesterday Fox 5 San Diego brought me back for a third time to talk about Depression. This time they wanted to hear more about Paternal Postpartum Depression. They were surprised to know that dads and partners are at risk for PPD, too. Many thanks to co-anchor Shally Zomorodi for helping raise awareness. You can watch the clip below:

Thinking About Getting Help for Paternal Postpartum Depression but Not Sure if You Have the Time?

One thing that I did not get a chance to say was that many parents think it is selfish or self-indulgent to spend time and money on themselves. But numerous studies have shown that fathers’ and mothers’ mental health greatly impact a child’s well-being. In fact parental depression affects emotional and intellectual development and has a lasting […]

13 01, 2016

Interview on Nutrition Instincts

By |2019-11-18T14:30:36-08:00January 13th, 2016|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

As I mentioned briefly in my New Year’s Newsletter, Lindsay of Nutrition Instincts recently interviewed me about Postpartum Wellness.

Postpartum Wellness

Lindsay is a sweet individual as well as a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified eating disorder specialist and certified intuitive eating professional.

Here is a sample of the interview:

“Abby, can you share a little more about what you do and who you work with?

“Sure, psychotherapy, therapy and counseling are different ways of describing talking with a licensed professional for the purposes of bettering your life. I work with people from all walks of life, but I have a special place in my heart for women who are wanting to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, and parenting. For […]

29 09, 2015

Breathing Underwater: How to Overcome Being Overwhelmed

By |2019-11-18T14:30:37-08:00September 29th, 2015|Categories: Blog, Mental Wellness, Students|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

School is back in session.

For me this means my kids are getting back into their morning routines and my part-time work at a local college is at its busiest point of the year. Our new interns are still being trained and the students are pouring in, requesting mental health counseling. It’s busy.

Breathing Underwater: Overcoming Being Overwhelmed

Personally, I usually feel on top of things. But with so many details swimming in my head, at times my mind just can’t process it all.

How do you catch a breath when you feel like you are slipping deeper and deeper underwater?

The single most common reason college students request mental health counseling is feeling OVERWHELMED.

Think about it this way: I throw you a small ball […]

8 09, 2015

Reframing Motherhood: The Photo That Doesn’t Get Posted

By |2019-11-18T14:30:37-08:00September 8th, 2015|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

New moms don’t put sad pictures up on social media.

I was honored when Katie Contrera, a graduate student in the Science/Medical Writing program at Johns Hopkins University, reached out to me for a therapist’s perspective on Postpartum Depression. Chatting on the phone with her, I loved hearing her passion for reducing stigma around peripartum mental health through her writing. Like me, she was interested in the role of social media and it’s ability to connect us yet make us less social. Katie sent me a copy of her article after turning it in for class. It’s good. And I’m honored that she let me publish it here.

Breakfast_in_Bed_(1897)_by_Mary_Cassatt,_Huntington_Library

Reframing Motherhood: The photo that doesn’t get posted

By Katie Contrera

It’s Mother’s Day—and you […]

25 07, 2015

4 Ways to Help Kids Understand Emotions with “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar)

By |2019-11-18T14:30:38-08:00July 25th, 2015|Categories: Blog, Giveaways/Free Resources, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: , , , , , , , |3 Comments

My recent “Inside Out” Study Guide for helping teens and adults understand emotions has been getting positive feedback on Pinterest. Today I’m sharing some ideas for helping younger kids and tweens (grades K-8) use the Disney/Pixar movie to better understand their feelings.

Helping Kids Understand Emotions with Inside Out

1. An emotion pie chart

To be honest, I can’t take full credit. One of my young clients* came up with this idea on his own. He had the brilliant idea of turning his face into a pie chart and using the five colored emotions from Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out” to represent the mix of his feelings. He then drew a key identifying the significance of each color.

You can use this idea […]

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